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When my mother was about the age I am now she joined a ballet class, which at the time we all thought was crazy. She had never been an athletic person but we soon learned she had grace. Her eyes sparkled, her movements flowed and her smile went ear to ear. She would gladly show us the moves and I could not recall another time she looked so happy. She had a passion for ballet and it filled her inside with a confidence that was wonderful.

The health benefits for her at the time were great and we soon realized that some activity is better than no activity. She got a spring back in her step, had fewer complications with her joints and back problems and could breathe better. She commented frequently about her lack of flexibility but I am sure taking ballet classes helped her more than it hurt her. I never got the chance to ask her why she quit taking them but her love for the dance never faded.

Granted I am not that old now, but I found a CD with dance exercises on it and one section is ballet. I can definitely see where taking a class would benefit learning the moves. The contortions I have gotten stuck in have caused my cats to come and inspect just to make sure I am okay. About the tenth time through the CD I can finally manage some of the moves but, let's just say my mom had a great advantage taking a class with a live instructor and possibly a little more coordination than I have.

Even for the small segments of the routine that I manage to get through I have found muscles that have long been unknown, in places I did not know could hurt. I can't pronounce the moves I am doing, let alone spell them. A round de jam what? I always thought a bon bon was something you ate. Oh, they make it look so easy. I still haven't given up on getting through the whole program and then I plan to conquer the jazz section.

At any rate, now that I am no longer working shift work I can partake in local classes offered through our community college. At least others in the class won't laugh at me like my children do. I wonder what my cats think.

Learn more about this author, Karen Moore.
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